Forbidden stuff

I don't see why not. Harry Potter is all about magic, which some Christians haven't liked. But Rowling does work Christmas into her stories, even though not in huge chunks, and many seem to like that part about the stories, possibly making them more receptive.

I believe the strong female characters you are thinking about are a plus. My story, that is now being read by an agent, is built around female characters. I thought girls would enjoy that more and I think that market segment is ready for more books.

I should think there were a lot of smaller, specialty presses out there that would love this.

Sorry, but I don't see any christian thinking at all in our society. All I see is sex, sex, and more sex in our society and morals are tossed out the window. But that's my opinion. If you want to publish a wiccan book, then do it, but don't blame the rejects on a "Christian based society'. Just make the plot interesting and make sure you write the novel well. Make sure the plot is original and exciting. Show it, don't tell it, write great dialogue, and interesting characters. Publishers reject not on religious thoughts, but on bad writing. Also remember, publishers want to make money, not spread wiccan ideas. If they think no one will want it, then they won't publish it. So write the book in a way that the publishers will love it. I suggest you limit the New Age, wiccan stuff and use it as a background. If you get too deep, the publisher will think you're preaching, the same as a Christian writer needs to limit thier religious views with a secular publisher.

As for a strong female character, well, there are tons of YA books with strong female characters. But again, concentrate on the character and her problems and struggles and less on the the wiccan beliefs.
kim

Thump said:

Hey all,

I'm currently well into a detailed outline for a children's fantasy novel (I'm thinking MG).
What has me wondering is whether I stand any chance of publishing this once it's done. The reality being that Christian thinking dominates our society, I was wondering if a book meant for children that heavily includes Astral Projection and a very Wiccan character portrayed very positively as well as a couple of other non-Christian themes and a main character who may or may not (haven't decided yet) become neo-Pagan would stand a chance in the slush pile. The novel is in no way about religion, I just use other things than the common "angels vs. demons" plot.
Should I mature it up and make it for older audiences? (I'm thinking later teens)

Also, more fantasy centered, how much will it hurt me to have a strong girl main character and strong female characters in general in a genre that is dominated by boy MCs?

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Thump said:

I think the controversy over The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter clearly show that Christian morality still plays a big role in what books are deemed acceptable. I'm not trying to blame any future rejections on "those evil Christian hypocrits" or anything of that sort. I can understand that an editor may reject a well-written book just because they worry that the themes are not suitable. Not because of their own religious beliefs but because of those of the readers as it is perceived by them. I do want to get published, you know? I don't want to make it harder than it needs to be. While I won't change my story to suit the masses, I can tone it down or change the style to suit a slightly older readership.

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Yeah, but those books are still out there and still being read despite Christian protest. In fact, these books are the most popular in our society and publishers are still publishing them. I haven't seen HP's publishers say, we can't publish that anymore b/c people are protesting. Publishers publish what the public wants. I see more books out there that are HP based than anything else. Just go the YA section of any bookstore and you'll see what I mean. Again, publishers publish what the public wants. Again, if you have an original story, good dialogue, great plot, interesting characters, then you have a better shot, despite what religion you use. But again, keep the wiccan beliefs in the background, don't over do it. Concentrate on the character and her struggles instead of overwhelming the reader with personal beliefs, christian or wiccan or otherwise. Capise?

If you want to make the book with strong wiccan beliefs, then you'll need to find a publisher who deals with it, just as if I were to write a Christian novel with heavy christian beliefs. Secular publishers want novels without the heavy religious undertones. So make a balance. Sometimes you have to follow certain writing rules regarding your beliefs. I see this as a writing challange when I write my novels and put in soft Christian tones. Sometimes you have to give the publishers what they want, then when you're established, you can do whatever you want and that's ok. And something else that might help you is to think about your target market. Who do you want to read this story? If you want mostly wiccans, then go with a wiccan publisher and go deep into wiccan beliefs. IF you want the regular public to read your story, then you will have to tone down the beliefs and make the wiccan stuff a background.

kim

I always say just write the book. I mean, I don't think the purpose of your book is to spread the wiccan gospel, otherwise I would agree with Dancre and say aim it towards a specialised market. I am getting the impression that this is just one element of your book. So don't worry about that just yet.

A strong female protagonist is actually done a heck of a lot, even in fantasy, so don't worry about that either. Besides girls always love to read about strong female role models.

Seriously though, write the thing first. I know it is cliche, but if it's a good story, people will want it.

And Dancre I didn't know sex was un-christian!

"And Dancre I didn't know sex was un-christian!"

Huh?? Not getting your statement here. The OP said "the reality being that Christian thinking dominates our society." I'm basically saying, where? Not on TV, that's for sure. That's all. Sorry if I offended you.

kim

I think the controversy over The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter clearly show that Christian morality still plays a big role in what books are deemed acceptable.

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And they vanished without a trace, never to be heard from again...

Seriously, if you can get a tenth of the opposition to your book that there was to the Da Vinci Code, you'll make enough money to buy a different midget whore every week. Don't fear controversy, it's free marketing!

Oh Dancre you didn't offend! It was a genuine question. I understood how a lack of morals could be considered un-christian, but the comment right before it was "sex sex and more sex in our society" and I didn't get the connection, that was all! Seriously, a non-issue and me taking us totally topic! Sorry about that guys!

McDuff said:

And they vanished without a trace, never to be heard from again...

Seriously, if you can get a tenth of the opposition to your book that there was to the Da Vinci Code, you'll make enough money to buy a different midget whore every week. Don't fear controversy, it's free marketing!

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I personally would LOVE to have that much controversy over my story. sigh . . . And McDuff, can I exchange the midget whore for a new wardrobe each week? Now that I can use!!! LOL!!!!!

Oh Dancre you didn't offend! It was a genuine question. I understood how a lack of morals could be considered un-christian, but the comment right before it was "sex sex and more sex in our society" and I didn't get the connection, that was all! Seriously, a non-issue and me taking us totally topic! Sorry about that guys!

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That's ok!! My mind's pretty numbed at this point, so all's fine. I work for an accountant firm and well, it's tax season!! Oh hurray. We're working almost 60 hours a week, 6 days a week. My co-workers and I decided today, we're going to tie our coats together and shimmy out the 8th floor window!! The sign to run is "Geese fly south for the winter." LOL!! oH, I'm soo tired!!!

I hope we've quelled your fears, Thump. I think you'll do just fine as long as you write a great story. And heck, just to help you out, we'll form a protest against you and you'll become as popular as Rowling. LOL!!!

kim

Dancre said:

I personally would LOVE to have that much controversy over my story. sigh . . . And McDuff, can I exchange the midget whore for a new wardrobe each week? Now that I can use!!! LOL!!!!!

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Use it for whatever you want. Just remember to write something that will send both Bill Donahue and Jerry Falwell into an apoplectic frenzy. It doesn't even matter if it's a load of old twaddle like Brown's books -- it means people get to feel smart by "debunking" your work of fiction even as you're making paper aeroplanes out of Benjamins just because you can.

I don't know if I'm that good a writer. LOL!! Man, that sounds harder than trying to figure out what words to use besides glance.

Reading slush, I used to see quite a few YA novels with a New Age theme; for some reason, they'd often combine magic and astral projection etc with aliens. They were, invariably, frightful tripe, but the only offensive thing about them was their prose.

The kind of people who might be offended, a la Harry Potter's immolators, are loonies; there's no point pandering to them, is there?

My kids attend a Christian private school. Harry Potter is not allow at this school, which I find odd. I see little difference in Harry's magic and, say, ideas from the Wizard of Oz, to which no one objects. Obviously, the two have major differences, afterall, one is just a dream. Regardless, the imagary is there. So I'll concur with others who said don't preach and you'll be okay.